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Wedekind and Schnitzler| Social Criticism and Literary Scandals in Turn-Of-The-Century Munich and Vienna

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Wedekind and Schnitzler| Social Criticism and Literary Scandals in Turn-Of-The-Century Munich and Vienna University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1986 Wedekind and Schnitzler| Social criticism and literary scandals in turn-of-the-century Munich and Vienna Elizabeth Graff Ametsbichler The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Ametsbichler, Elizabeth Graff, "Wedekind and Schnitzler| Social criticism and literary scandals in turn-of- the-century Munich and Vienna" (1986). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4062. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4062 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 HIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT IN WHICH COPYRIGHT SUB" S. ANY FURTHER REPRINTING OF ITS CONTENTS MUST BE APPROVED rIE AUTHOR, MANSFIELD LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA DATE: 198 Wedekind and Schnitzler: Social Criticism and Literary Scandals in Turn-of-the-Century Munich and Vienna By Elizabeth Graff Ametsbichler B.A., University of Montana, 1983 resented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1986 Approved by: Chairman, Boara of Examiners can. Graduate" SCThool /-3- / / ^ Date^ UMI Number: EP34723 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS ie quality of this reproduction is dependent on the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript here are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Diwwrtetfofli PiMshing UMI EP34723 Copyright 2012 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract Ametsbichler, Elizabeth Graff, M.A., May 1986 German Vedekind and Schnitzler: Social Criticism and Literary Scandals in Turn-of-the-Century Munich and Vienna (116 pp.) Selected works of the turn-of-the-century authors, Frank Vedekind and Arthur Schnitzler, provide the focus for this study. The two German-speaking writers often created scandals in their fin-de-siecle audiences, and this thesis examines the socially critical and provocative nature of their works and probes the differences and similarities between the authors, their works, and the reception of those works. The questions this study is attempting to answer and a statement of purpose are included in Chapter I, as well as an outline of the organization of the thesis and the focus of each chapter. Chapter II briefly describes the cultural, social, and political settings In which Vedekind and schnitzler lived and worked. Vedekind adopted Munich, the capital of Bavaria, for his home, while Schnitzler was a native of Vienna, the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Both were Inevitably in­ fluenced in their work by these cities, as well as by the broader national situation of Germany and Austria, respectively. Not only were Vedekind and Schnitzler influenced by their respective cities and countries, but also by their family background and personal experiences. The highlights of their lives are briefly summarized in Chapter III, and an attempt is made to detemine the implications these experiences and circumstances had on their work. Chapter IV, the central portion of the thesis, is divided into the subsections—Politics and the Military; Sexuality; and Social Institutions and Questions—wherein selected works of Vedekind and Schnitzler are discussed comparatively, and the authors' criticisms of mores, institutions, and traditions in conventional society are examined within the context of these thematic issues and of the provocative nature of the works. The main works analyzed are: Vedekind's political poetry, his dramas Lulu and FrShlings Erwachen; Schnitzler's novelette "Leutnant Gustl" and his dramas Reigen and Professor Bernhardi. The authors shared many of the same thematic concerns, and both often elicited similar reactions from a scandalized public, yet their literary styles contrasted drastically. Their differing literary approaches, in view of the similar public response, are the focus of Chapter V. Chapter VI presents a brief discussion of the reception of Vedekind and Schnitzler by some of their contemporaries, which further confirms their similarities and dissimilarities as literary figures, and the conclusion briefly comments on Schnitzler and Vedekind in today's established theater world. i i Preface I was introduced to the authors Frank Vedekind and Arthur Schnitzler in upper level German literature courses at the University of Montana. These two writers, who lived in the same era and criticized many of the same social and political institutions, intrigued me, especially since their literary styles, their personalities, and the manner of their social criticism differed so drastically. They interested me also because they are so closely connected to what have become my two "Lieblingsstadte," Munich and Vienna, and I view these two authors as representative figures of these cities at the turn of the century—an exciting and volatile time, and a time which provides the background for the present cities. I chose the outsider and Bilrgerschreck Vedekind as the topic of a Senior Honors Thesis (1982-83) not only because I found the "pre-Expressionistic" nature of his works fascinating, but because he is so intimately associated with Munich, a city where I lived for many years and with which I am well acquainted. I had spent my time in Munich before my formal education in German began, which increased my eager­ ness to probe the city's history. Thus I used the opportunity of the research project to combine my interest in Munich with my newly discovered literary interest in Frank Vedekind, whom I have since come to perceive as an embodiment 111 of Munich's fin-de-sifecle atmosphere. Though I had not spent nearly as much time in Vienna, the city aroused my attention when I had visited on occasion while living in Munich. I observed (and heard about) basic differences in the Viennese and the "Munchner" mentalities, and decided that a comparative research study on Vedekind and Schnitlzer, and on fin-de-siecle Munich and Vienna, would illuminate some of the present differences between the two cities. For the academic year 1984-85, I was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Vienna to conduct research on the topic Schnitzler-Vedekind, in order to determine the extent to which the cities shaped and are reflected in their respective works, and further, to establish the existing differences and similarities between the authors. The extensive library facilities and archives in Vienna provided me with indispensable secondary literature and documentation for such a study. Also, living in Vienna and exploring Schnitzler's city—which though changed since his day, has retained some of its fin-de-siecle charm, mood, and atmosphere—furnished me with an excellent opportunity to acquire knowledge of the city impossible to obtain from books and libraries. I have extensively read the primary works of Vedekind and Schnitzler and vast amounts of secondary literature on the authors, on their works, and on the times, but I feel that my familiarity and association with both cities has been an inspirational as well as significant iv resource for my research. My personal interest induced me to choose a thesis topic that wou Id allow me to conduct research involving and revolving around both Munich and Vienna. v Table of Contents Abstract ii Preface ill Chapter I: Introduction 1 Chapter II: Turn-of-the-Century Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria 7 Munich: Capital of defiant Bavaria 9 Vienna: Capital of an Empire in 14 Notes to Chapter II 24 Chapter III: Sohne ihrer Zeit 26 Schnitzler: "Der Burgerschreck wider Villen".. 26 Vedekind: "Der Burgerschreck" 30 Notes to Chapter III 36 Chapter IV: Assaulting Established Society 37 Politics and the Military 37 Sexuality 50 Lulu 50 Reiqen 57 Social Institutions and Questions 66 Notes to Chapter IV 79 Chapter V: The Loud versus the Soft 83 Vedekind 83 Schnitzler 88 Notes to Chapter V 98 Chapter VI: Contemporary Reaction 100 Schnitzler 100 Vedekind 104 Notes to Chapter VI 108 Conclusion 110 Bibliography 112 vi I. Introduction Scandals and public protest surrounded the literary careers of Frank Vedekind and Arthur Schnitzler. Govern­ mental censorship and harassment by the press plagued them as they pursued sensational literary paths that shocked their self-righteous, hypocritical fin-de-siecle audiences. These two German-speaking authors looked beyond and beneath the conventions of their societies and attacked the established institutions upholding these facades. Thus, skeptical reactions to their works by the authorities, the press, and the public were inevitable. My thesis is that the authors, their works, and their (often scandalous) reception, reflect some basic truths about and differences (along with similarities) between established society in turn-of-the-century Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria. By examining the "scandalous" nature of their works, such distinctions come into a clearer focus. Vhat were the characteristics of their works which made them scandalous? Vhat were the intentions of the two authors as they wrote their works? My intent is to probe and discuss these questions within the context of their times and works. I also attempt to illustrate the influence that their respective cities had on them and their works. Following this introduction, I have divided my study into five parts. In chapter II of the the thesis, I 1 briefly describe the setting in which Vedekind and Schnitzler lived and worked.
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